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Alpha Lipoic Acid is supposed to be good for blood sugar problems, but I am not sure if it helps hiv related neuropathy. The drug D4T causes nerves to physically separate from muscle tissue causing a permanent loss of sensation and eventually mobility problems. DDI and 3TC due this as well.

Below is an article about research at John Hopkins. The article has demonstrated that nerves can be regenerated and as a result, this article has nothing less than profound implications for hiv patients.

Years of additional research is needed before such an experiment could be attempted in people.

But the work marks a new step in stem cell research that promises to one day help repair damage from nerve-destroying illnesses such as Lou Gehrig's disease, or from spinal cord injuries.

"This is an important first step, but it really is a first step, a proof of principle that ... you can rewire part of the nervous system," said Dr. Douglas Kerr, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins University who led the work being published Monday in the journal Annals of Neurology.

The new research details a complex recipe of growth factors and other chemicals that entice the delicate cells to form correctly and make the right connections.

The experiment essentially replaces motor neurons--specialized nerve cells for movement--that have died to make a new circuit that grows neuronal connections out of the spinal cord and down to a leg muscle

ALA , 200 mg twice daily and acetyl L-carnitine 2000mg twice daily have helped my peripheral neuropathy. I experimented with it after reading an article stating this combination helped.It took a couple months to notice a difference. A nice surprise after hearing that my D4t,DDI induced peripheral neuropathy did "permanent damage". I don't remember how I arrived at the dosages...can't find the article...but its been over a year now...I still have some peripheral neuropathy with noticeable numbness in some toes, but the tingling while walking reduced noticeably.

I am currently doing Alpha Lipoic Acid at 200mg 3 x a day and will start Acetyl- L-Carnitine 1000mg 2 x a day. I know each person has different results with different treatments for neuropathy, but I would only attempt those that are also being done also via government clinical trials.

Best Always

Douglas

Hi doug,

I take the Acetyl-L-carnitine and Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Have for quite a while. Mine is combined in one pill...

Acetyl-L-Carnitine---500mg

Alpha Lipoic Acid----150 mg

I take two of these a day, along with COQ-10 ( 150mg-once a day)

I had developed neuropathy 5 months or so starting into the start of meds, back in October of 2003. Lets put it this way, I still do not need any pain medication for the neuropathy at this point.